A/N: Slightly different to my usual Riain fluff in that Rita and Iain aren't together here. Bit more like an actual episode with medical stuff to deal with, I just wanted to explore the pair interacting on a professional basis and getting to know each other a bit better. It will be multi chapter and have I ideas for further chapters but would be interested to hear if there's anything particular you'd like to see included. Can't promise anything but it might set me off with ideas for even more chapters so... please review if you can spare a minute! It makes my day to read what you think and gives me more motivation to keep writing :) XxX
Rita slammed her locker shut and leant back against it closing her eyes.
"Shift and a half. Done. Time for my bed" she let out a sigh of relief and pushed herself forward, swinging her bag onto her shoulder.
"Now there's an offer I can't refuse" quipped Cal. from the sofa in the corner of the room.
"In your dreams Doctor Knight! See you tomorrow!"
She pushed through the staff room door smiling to herself. Despite being years in the past now, her life with her ex-husband had cast a long shadow. It still felt like a novelty that she could enjoy the company and banter of her male colleagues without being interrogated on her every move.
Her smile dropped as she stepped out into reception and saw another colleague obviously in distress. Iain, the paramedic, was tearing his hand through his hair, his face drawn and panicked.
"Shit. Shit. Shit!" Though he held his radio in his other hand, his outburst seemed to be to no one in particular.
Turning frantically on his heels he practically collided with the small nurse who had to grab onto both his arms to stay on her feet. She held onto him as she attempted to get through to him.
"Iain what's wrong? What's happened?" She spoke softly though the concern was evident in her tone.
"Fuck. Rita sorry. We're just so short-staffed and I can't take this shout and there's nobody else. Fucking hell!" His voice was raised in frustration now and several waiting patients turned to stare at the scene.
"Okay Iain you need to calm down sweetheart." She turned him gently away from the onlookers and stepped slightly closer to him lowering her voice in the hope he'd do the same.
"Talk to me. Where's your partner? You've been with Jez today right? What's the shout? Why can't you take it?"
"He's had to go home. This bloody stomach flu that everyone's coming down wi'. The call's a lone female, face lacerations, query fractured tib, 37 weeks pregnant, query labour. It needs two people but the ETA on the next crew is 40 minutes minimum..." Iain looked into Rita's face desperately as an idea formed into his head "Can you spare anyone? Please?" His eyes looking hopefully at her.
"I… We're in the same mess here Iain. We're so stretched. The team's been dropping like flies with this bug. I just covered half of Robyn's shift myself..." Rita's brain was spinning as she appreciated Iain's concern for how critical it was that this patient was reached as soon as possible.
"Take me" she stated simply, pushing him back toward the staff room.
"Er… What?" Iain blinked in confusion momentarily.
"On the shout Iain. What did you think I meant?" She raised her eyebrow at him sarcastically but continued "I'll need to get changed again. Hang on"
"Reet, you're a star" Iain exhaled thankfully "I'll wait outside"
"No time for that" Rita declared "I'll just grab the overalls, I can change in the back" She dashed back into the staffroom while Iain radioed an update to Control, rejoining him seconds later with a bundle of green fabric tucked under her arm. "Come on then. Where are you taking me?"
Five minutes later and the pair were speeding towards the address in West Holby, blue lights flashing and Iain cursing oblivious drivers in front of him.
"You alright in the back?" He shouted to Rita who was just about winning the battle to perform an outfit change without being dumped unceremoniously on the floor.
"Don't worry about me" Rita replied breathlessly as she attempted to wriggle out of her skinny jeans while clinging to the ambulance trolley "if a phonebox was good enough for Superman…"
"And I suppose you're Wonder Woman are you?" Iain replied cheekily.
"Actually… I'm more of a Catwoman fan" Rita glanced up to catch the paramedic's eye in his rear view mirror.
"Oh really? You and me both" he smirked "You got the outfit then?"
"Wouldn't you like to know?" Rita teased, concentrating on freeing her left foot as Iain laughed.
"Come on people this isn't a yellow taxi!" Iain exclaimed in frustration "I'm gonna have to mount the kerb Rita, hold on. Three points of contact remember!"
"Whoaaaa…!" Hopping about on one leg Rita somehow managed to cling on to the trolley to stay upright.
Halted by a jumble of cars trying to get out of the way at the approach to a roundabout, Iain turned to check on her.
"Are you oka… oh…" his voice tailed off as he was greeted by a view of her bare legs and a flash of lace underwear. He smiled and subconsciously bit his lip, holding his gaze long enough for Rita to catch him in the act.
"Oi. Eyes front please driver" she scolded, before managing to capitalise on the slowed vehicle enough to extract herself from the jeans and pull the overalls up her legs. "Three points of contact?"
"Yeah you know, climbin' and whatnot. Health and safety, innit. Two feet and one hand or the other way round"
"I'll remember that next time you're flinging me round the back of your ambulance shall I?" she made a face as she shrugged the overalls over her white vest top, not oblivious to the fact that Iain was enjoying the innuendo in her comment. "Right!" She exclaimed, blowing her fringe up out of her eyes "Dixie was right about your driving. I think I'd rather be up front it you don't mind"
She started to clamber over the seats between them.
"Bloody hell Rita, you shouldn't really... be careful! I'm for it if anyone sees this..." He somehow managed to help her over before he had to concentrate fully on driving again. "If I'm going to get in trouble for inappropriate behaviour with a nurse in the ambo I can think of things I'd rather be caught doing to be honest..." he turned and winked mischievously at her as Rita rolled her eyes.
"Remind me why we've never slept together?" Iain ventured glancing sideways at his colleague once more.
"Seriously?" Rita looked at him in exasperation. What was it with the men of Holby today? "Perhaps because I don't fancy being another notch on your bedpost, hmm?"
"Ouch" The smile dropped from Iain's face briefly before he clutched at his heart as though mortally wounded by her comment. "Ooh here we go... Hamilton Road. Nice houses. We're after number 18…"
Iain brought the ambulance to a halt and the pair jumped up out, Rita pulling up the zip on her overall as she went.
"You look cute in a green onesie" Iain observed as she rounded the vehicle.
"Cute?" Rita queried, a hint of irritation in her voice as she tied her shoulder length blonde hair back into a ponytail.
"Alright. Cuter" Iain smirked and turned up the path "Come on. Job to do" he was already knocking on the front door. "Hello! Ambulance service. Are you able to open the door?"
Hearing groans from within, Iain peered in through the letterbox and realised the woman was wedged up against the door her legs splayed out in front of her at an impossible angle.
"Shit Reet. I don't like the look of this at all" he muttered under his breath.